News Feature

Taxes in Blue Hill will be slightly higher this year when tax bills hit the mailbox in the coming week. Blue Hill’s board of selectmen set the town’s mill rate at $8.80 per $1,000 of valuation at its July 18 meeting, up from last year’s $8.40.

“This means an increase of $40 per $100,000 of valuation,” explained Selectman Jim Schatz as the selectmen discussed the numbers.

The town of Blue Hill has a total taxable real estate valuation of $642,709,400 and $970,000 of taxable personal property from which to draw income.

Based on spending at town meeting—which included $820,801 for municipal expenses, $4,560,362 for school expenses and a county tax assessment of $290,418—$5,671,581 needed to be raised.

The mill rate also reflects $69,820 in “overlay” funds, which provide a cushion in case taxes are abated (or not paid) throughout the course of the year.

Tax bills are expected to be mailed by Monday, July 28, and are to be paid by October 15 in order to avoid a penalty.